Detachable whiffletree



(NoModel.)

J G GOSHORN DB'ILAGHABLIE` WHIFFLETREE.

No. 405,548. Patented June 18, 1889.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JQSEPH G. G-OSHORN, OF SPRING RUN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DETACHABLE WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,548, dated J' une 18, 1889.

Application iiled April, 1889. Serial No. 306,490. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOSEPH G. GOSHORN, of Spring Run, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Detachable Vhiffletrees; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of thesame.

My invention relates to whiifletrees of that class in which the traces or tugs are held to the whiflie by detachable connections, consisting of bolts normally pressed out by springs and capable of retraction to detach the horse from the vehicle at `the will of the driver.

The invention consists of improved details of construction designed to give greater com- .z pactness and strength with certainty of operation and economy in manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is illustrated, Figure l is a perspective viewof the complete article. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the plate carrying the operating parts. y

In the drawings I have shown the article as formed of a metal plate, preferably of steel, and a wood en upper part. The plate is marked A, it being in length and lateral dimensions the size of the whiiiietree, and of sufficient thickness to firmly sustain the working parts. On this plate are set thelu gs and levers which hold and operate the bolts. Both ends are alike and a description of one will serve for both. On the end of the plate are two vertical lugs a b, with a space between fitted to receive the end of the tug or its clip. Alittle farther toward the center*say about six inchesis another lug of the same size l and shape, (marked c.) These are all perforated in line for the attaching-bolt D, which has a collar d, serving as a bearing for a spring c, and as a stop to limit the outward movement of the bolt. The coiled spring e bears at one end against this collar and at the other end on the collar d, thus tending to force the bolt outward. To the inner end of the bolt is attached a wire or chain which connects the bolt to a lever E, pivoted on the plate. The

outer or free end of the lever projects beyond the plate and has a hole to receive a cord, link, or chainV F, which connects to the other lever E, one being on one side of the central bolt and the other on the other side.

The levers are of the second order, and when drawn together by pulling on the cord or chain F the bolts are retracted so that the end is drawn out of the space between the two outer lugs, and then the tug is released. In order to retain the lever in this retracted position, two hooks H are provided on the outside, which engage and hold the levers so long as it is desired to hold the bolts out of engagement with the tugs.

The upper or wooden part of the whiffle tree (marked B) is of the ordinary shape, eX- cept that its under surface is fiat and hollowed to fit over the projections on the plate A. It then covers all the working parts and protects them and gives the whole the appearance of an ordinary whifiietree. The center bolt-hole is through the iron and Wood, and the whole has al1 the necessary strength. The connecting cord or chain below the levers is extended by the connection F to any convenient part of the carriage within reach of the driver, and at any time when necessary* as from the occasion Vof the horses taking fright and running awaythe tugs can be released by simply pulling the cord F. As is well known, the holdback-straps Vcan be, as they preferably are, so attached that they may be drawn out when reversed, as by the releasing of the tugs.

In attaching the tugs all that is necessary 'is to draw back and hook the bolts and then introduce the ends of the tugs between the outer lugs and release the hooks.

That I claim is l. In combination with the plate A, carrying spring-bolts and operating-levers for said bolts, a wooden part B, fitting over the plate A and covering the operating parts, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the plate A, carrying spring-bolts and operatingflevers therefor, pivoted hooks for engaging said levers to hold the bolts out of engagement, substantially as described.

In test-imonywher'eof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. G. GOSHORN. Vitnesses:

WALTER P. KEENE,

sAnoRE MIDDLETON. 

